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Sherwood News

More Americans are using BNPL to buy groceries

“Funding secured” for food doesn’t sound great.

4/28/25 11:12AM

More Americans are leaning on “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services to cover groceries and meals, according to financial services firm LendingTree.

In an April survey of 2,000 US consumers, nearly half said they’ve used BNPL at least once, with 22% having used it six or more times. They’re also falling behind more often: 41% have made a late BNPL payment in the past year — up from 34% in 2024 — while 60% said they’ve juggled multiple BNPL loans at once.

But what’s most telling is how this once optional tool for splurges is now creeping into everyday essentials.

While the top three BNPL purchases — apparel and accessories, tech devices, and home furnishings — remained unchanged from last year, essentials are quickly climbing the list: 25% of consumers are now buying groceries through BNPL, up sharply from 14% a year ago.

And it’s not just groceries. Nearly one in six shoppers are using BNPL for food delivery and takeout, with companies already responding to the trend. DoorDash announced last month it will partner with leading BNPL firm Klarna to offer installment payments at checkout.

Behind this surge in BNPL usage lies a sharp rise in food costs.

There’s been the much-discussed “eggflation,” but more expensive omelettes are just a starter. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices in the US rose 24% from 2020 to 2024, outpacing the overall inflation rate of 21%, with 2022 marking the sharpest one-year jump since 1979. There’s still little sign of relief: in its latest outlook, the USDA projected food prices would continue rising “slightly faster” than the historical average growth rate in 2025.

Hyunsoo Rim

hardly working

5/27/26

Teens aren’t getting summer jobs like they used to — this year could be worse than ever

Teen summer hiring in the US might hit its lowest level since federal tracking began, new report finds.

Saleah Blancaflor

5/15/26

From Desi Arnaz to SpaceX: Understanding the rules of the modern economy

We talked with “Planet Money” author Alex Mayyasi about how AI might help or replace you, the superstar effect, and how the compounding effect extends beyond money.

Globes covered with various currencies suspended in space

Millie Giles5/8/26

Ahead of Mother’s Day, Google searches for “same day flower delivery” have ticked up a little earlier this year

If you’ve already made plans for a Mother’s Day gift in advance of this Sunday, congratulations. But if alarm bells are suddenly ringing, consider this a gentle reminder that, like a sizable share of the US population this time of year often does, you can still scrape together some last-minute flowers for the woman who carried you for nine months.

Data from Google Trends reveals that searches for “same day flower delivery” spike in the US in May every year, when Mother’s Day takes place. As we noted last February, the same query also gains traction around Valentine’s Day.

This year, however, it appears that searches for last-minute flowers have remained elevated in the last two months after the usual peak in February — with the search interest this April actually exceeding that seen around Cupid’s Day.

Honestly, we’re not sure why searches are spiking a little early. One explanation might be that Passover and Easter have overlapped at the start of April, and Americans wanted to celebrate with some flowers. Maybe it’s a host of Claude bots that are now running errands for AI-obsessed execs — or perhaps Americans are just impulse-buying some seasonal spring blooms after an unusually warm March, without a particular occasion.